VN announces $19.8 mln project of bauxite study

The Vietnam’s Department of Geology and Minerals Friday announced a five-year-long VND408 billion (US$19.8 million) project to study bauxite and laterite deposits in seven provinces from October 2011 to September 2015.

Titled “Overall survey & examination of bauxite, laterite deposits potential in southern Vietnam”, the project will cover a total area of 14,000 square kilometers in Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Binh Dinh, Dak lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong, and Dong Nai.

Accordingly, the project not only focuses on discovering and zoning areas having bauxite and laterite deposits but also estimates on their reserves.

Vietnam will use land survey, mineral examination, and analysis to best implement the comprehensive study.

According to the geology department, bauxite and laterite in northern Vietnam have been well-studied and are set to produce alumina, which is a key component of the aluminum industry.

Laterite is used in iron and steel industries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told a National Assembly meeting last November that the country’s bauxite reserves could reach 11 billion tons, enough to supply for its alumina industry in the long term.

Vietnam is currently constructing two bauxite mining and processing complexes in the central highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Dak Nong.

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